Sarah (Mitcham) Oxenham (1860 - 1940)

Born 25 Feb 1860 in Royal Hill, Greenwich, Kent, England

Ancestors

Wife of Edwin Oxenham — married 30 Oct 1907 in Ponsonby Baptist Church, Auckland, New Zealand

Died 28 Dec 1940 at age 80 in 3 King St. Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand

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Biography

Notes from Edna Brady (descendant)

" Daughter of Isaac and Sarah Mitcham married Edwin "Ted" Oxenham, a widower with a family. When she was young she was an apprentice dressmaker which meant she had no wages for 12 months. Sarah lived in Onehunga when married, 10 Huia Street, now Huapai Street for the front entrance and Cameron Street for the back entrance. The house was built on a reef of rock. The dining room window looked out over Wiri Mountain and Mt Mcloughlan. Below the window was a large rock formed like a sofa. we used to lie down on it. her kitchen bench was very low as she was short, and the tap was high. There was a tin bath in the bathroom. In her cupboards in the dining room there ws beautiful English china, but we drank out of cups with clip on handles. There was an old dairy near the back door where Sarah used to make butter. Sarah would take it to her brother in Herne Bay, a days outing. Sarah was buried with her parents at Waikaraka cemetery. Quote from Sarah, "it wasn't right for her to be buried with her husband as she wasn't his first wife". Ted Oxenham had first asked Sarah's sister Carrie to marry him but she refused , so he asked Sarah.

Ted's children I know of Ken Oxenham married Eileen Eaves from Orewa. Ken grew chrysanthemums. Bert Oxenham worked in Mackays florist a few doors from Grandpa's shop. Bert married Maggie Harrison. Ivy Oxenham married Mr. Parrish or Parris. They had a dairy in College hill, England St. corner, Ponsonby.

From Trevor Mattingly (descendant). When our Grandmother died, his mother Eileen Mattingly nee Mitcham was only about 6 weeks old, Sarah looked after her till she was about 10 and then she returned to Ponsonby to live with her father Fred Mitcham and her siblings.

From Allan McNair's booklet. Memories of William Peter McNairand Laura McNair nee Mitcham. And other family members.

This will be just a paragraph from his book relevant to my Great aunt Sarah "Meanwhile Aunt sarah. lonely in her widowhood had broken up badly. By May 1939, she had found herself quite unable to care for herself any longer, and Uncle fred and Caroline had taken her to live with them at Herne Bay. Ken Oxenham , sorting out her affairs, had little sentimental interest in her family letters and portraits, and most of them were destroyed. As the months went by she completely lost her memory. She died in the Auckland Infirmary on Dec 28, 1840 and was buried beside her parents at Waikaraka. Mother wrote that although it was a sad day, it was much for the best, as she was virtually paralysed and unconscious. She was 80. Aunt Sarah left me a small legacy, which I was able to invest in a bookcase, in her memory. later also I was entrusted with her family album.

Sources

• Birth, Baptisms solemnised in the parish of Greenwich, in the County of Kent, in 1860

Baptism date. 13 May 1860. Name Sarah Parents, Isaac John and Sarah Mitcham Abode, Royal Hill. Born 25 Feb Father's Occupation, Sail Maker P162, No1284 Line 6

England and Wales census 1861 residence Greenwich, St Alphege, Kent England Age 1, relationship to head of house, daughter

Emigration 1863 London to Auckland, New Zealand From Auckland Public Library Oct 1863 record of arrival of the Ganges in Auckland and the passenger list includes "Enclosed Steerage Isaac, Sarah, Sarah and Caroline Mitcham The voyage took 103 days and carried 220 passengers and a cargo of general merchandise.